Poul M. Thomsen a Danish national, has been Director of the IMF’s European Department since November 2014, supervising the Fund’s bilateral surveillance work for 44 countries, the policy dialogue with EU institutions, including the ECB, and discussions for Fund-supported programs. Mr. Thomsen also has the responsibility for the Fund’s outreach activities in Europe and its interactions with European senior officials. Before taking up his current position, he had the primary responsibility for the Fund’s programs with European countries affected by the global financial crisis and the subsequent Euro Zone crisis. Earlier in his career, Mr. Thomsen gained extensive knowledge of countries in Central and Eastern Europe, having worked on the region continuously from 1987 to 2008, including as mission chief for multiple countries, head of the Fund’s Russia Division during the country’s 1998 financial crisis, and Director of the Moscow Office from 2001 to 2004.